Device for use in and process of incasing structural members



Aug. 30 1927.

1,640,983 J. M. CROM DEVICE FOR USE IN AND PROCESS OF INCASING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed June 15 1926 l/Vl/E/VTOR JOHN MAURICE CROM BY JVLM Wkly/1A .4 TTOR/VE VS Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MAURICE CROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CEMENT GUN CON- TRACTING COMPANY, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

DEVICE FOR USE IN AND PROCESS OF INCASING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS.

Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to a method of and means for incasing steel members, such as I-beams and built-up girders, with cement or concrete. More, specifically, the invention relates to the construction and method of use of a form or shooting strip to be utilized in connection with the application, by means of a shooting device, of suitable ccmentitious material, such as cement mortar,

to the flanged edges of such I-beams, girders or the like.

In forming such cementitious coverings for members, such as steel structural parts, a suitable mixture of in redients, preferably cement and sharp Sflllt in a dry state is blown through the nozzle of the shooting device where water is introduced at a higher pressure than the air exerting the blowing action on the cement and sand mixture. The water therefore penetrates the stream of flowing material and as the water becomes atomized, covers all of the particles with fine spray. When this hydrated material is impelled against the surface to be coated, the

first effect is to cause a very marked rejecti of material which may be sand only. T cement adheres to the surface forming a film of neat cement to serve as a matrix and when this matrix reaches a perceptible thickness the sand finds seat and the rejected,

material grows markedly less. There continues to be a certain amount of rejection of the inert material, each grain of which has, however, performed the function of actingas a tamper to drive the projecting grains deeper into the matrix in which they are seated. The result of this pounding is to produce a very dense, hard and durable material or mor tar. Within a few minutes after the application of this material, the surface of such material may be put into better shape as for example by use of a screed for obtaining a plane surface. An important object of the present invention is to. provide an improved method of applying the cementitious material to a structural member.

Another objectpf the invention is to provide a novel form or shooting strip adapted for ready application to or removal from a' structural member to be covered with cementitious material or mortar. Other objects of the invention are to provide a shooting strip comprising clips 1926. Serial No. 116,245.

- adapted to engage the flanges of girders or I-beams and yielding connections between the opposing clips so that the clips may be snapped on or removed from the flanges; to provide a shooting strip comprising facing members adapted to be placed parallel to the. outer edges of the flanges of an I-beam or girder and means to support them from the flanges, and detachable, facing members to be brought into position beneath the flanges and adjacent their edges; and to provide a method by which the cement or concrete may be confined at the edges of the flanges during the blowing of the cement on the upper edges of the flanges and then left free beneath said edges during the covering of the lower faces of such flanges.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings: I Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the invention as applied to the flanges of a girder; I

Fig. 2 is a detail edge view of one of the clips shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section.

Referring to Fig. 1, a shooting strip, indicated generally by 10, is attached by means including clips 11 to the flanges 12 of a built-up girder 13. The shooting strip comprises boards or facing members 14 to which are attached the clips 11. One of the'boards 14 is, according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, bolted to the flattened upper end of a member or nipple 15 which at its lower end is connected by a pipe elbow with a cross member in the form of a pipe 16. Obviously certain bolts used in securing the left hand board 14 (Fig. 1) to the member 15 may be used for securing clips 11 to the board. Slidably mounted on the pipe or cross member 16 is an iron pipe T 17 in which is secured a nipple 15 having a flattened upper end to which another of said boards 14 is bolted. Also mounted on said pipe 16 outside of the T 17 is a helical spring 18 engaging at its outer end a cotter pin 19 set in any pair of aligned openings 20 in said pipe 16 and arranged at suitable intervals therealong. Thus, by setting the cotter pin 19 at a suitable position along the pipe 16, the tension of the spring 18 may be adjusted to give th clips 11 the required may readily be adjusted for different widths of flanges.

As herein disclosed, the clips 11 are in the forms of angles having base portions 21 countersunk in the boards 14 and projecting portions 22 having notches 23 to engage the edges of the flanges 12. Preferablythe portions 22 of the clips are beveled at ther ends immediately above the notches 23, thereby facilitating the application of the shooting strip to th girder or members 13. By having the base portions 21 of the clips 11 countersunk in boards 14, the outer edges of such bases 21 may be made flush with the inner faces of the boards 14 thus avoiding undesired cavities and depressions in the outer surface of the cement casing; and by making the projecting portions 22 slightly wedgelike, and thinner at th ends than at their bases the removal thereof from the covered member will b facilitated.

It should be understood that the boards 14 may be of any length desired and that the clips 11 and spring connecting devices may be attached thereto at any desired intervals.

When the shooting strip 10 has been applied to the girder 13, furring strips 24 may be placed with their edges adjacent the boards 14 and beneath the clips 11 and then secured in position by suitable means such as wedges 25 engaging the lower faces of the strips 24 and the upper sides of pipes 26.

After the shooting strip has been attached to two opposite flanges of the girder or beam, the cementitious material is applied to the tops of the two flanges and at the edges thereof. The wooden blocks and strips 24 are removed immediately thereafter thus permitting loosely bound sand to drop away. at the edges of the flanges, and the first coat of cementitious material is then shot into place at the lower edge of the flange. Then the shooting strip proper may be removed by separating the clips 11 on opposite sides of the girder far enough to permit such action. It will be apparent that, even if the cementitious material has been shot in around the clips 11, such clips may be removed due to their wedge-like shape and that any gaps left in this way may then be filled with the cementitious material.

It will be seen that the novel shooting strip may be readily applied to and removed from a girder or other structural member and that by having the strips at the lower sides of the flange edges readily removable without removing the rest of the shooting strip the loose rebound or uncoated sand will be permitted to drop away from the edge of the flange, thereby enabling the formation of a better covering. It will be evident that by placing the cotter pins in difierent sets of openings 20, the shooting strip may be adjusted for difl'erent Widths of flanges.

certain cases, the strips 24 may spaced from the boards onmembers 14.

It should be understood that the dimensions and forms of diiferent parts/may be varied to meet the requirements and that A other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A device for usein incasing a girder by shooting cementitious material in place, comprising a member to be placed along but spaced outwardly from the outer edge of a flange of said girder, clips projecting from said member and each having a recess to receive said edge, and means engaging said girder at the opposite side thereof and connected with said clips for yieldably urging the clips into engagement with said edge of the flange.

2. A device -for use in incasing a girder by shooting cementitious material into place, comprising a member to be placed parallel to but spaced outwardly from the outer edge of one of two opposite flanges of said girder, and spring-urged means for gripping said flanges and thereby supporting said member.

3. A device for use in incasing a girder by shooting cementitious material in place, comprising a member to be placed along but spaced outwardly from the outer edge of a flange of said girder, clips each projecting from said member and having a recess to receive said edge, and means connected with said clips and engaging said girder at the opposite side'thereot for yieldably retaining said clips in engagement with said edge of the flange.

4. A device for use in incasing a girder or the like by shooting cementitious material into place, comprising a member to be placed along but spaced outwardly from the outer edge of one of two opposite flanges of said girder, and means for supporting said member from said girder comprising clips to engage the edges of said opposite flanges, and spring means to press said clips against such opposite edges while permitting release of said clips against the actiomof such spring means.

5. A device for use in incasing a girder or the like by shooting cementitious material into place, comprising members to be placed along but spaced outwardly from the outer edges of two opposite flanges of said/girder, and means for supporting said embers from said girder comprising clips to engage the edges of said opposite flange connections between said ehps to hold them in engagement with said opposite flanges while permitting movement thereof toward and from each other, and means for yieldably urgin such opposed clips toward each other.

6. K method of incasing a girder or the like, including shooting cementitious material into place at the outer edge of a lateral flange of said girder while confining. said material at the outer edge of the flange and beneath said outer ed e, freein said material from said con ning act10n at the lower surface thereof to permit loosely bound sand to drop away therefrom, and

then shooting the first coating of cementitious material into place at the lower face of said flange.

7. A- method of incasing a girder or the like, including the steps of shooting cementi- A tious material into lace at the outer edge of a lateral flange of said girder while confining said material against said outer edge and holding said material at the outer edge against downward movement below a plane slightly beneath the lower surface of said flange, freeing said material from restraint at the lower face thereof as soon as the covering is completed at said outer edge and permitting loosely bound sand to fall away, and shooting cementitious material into place at the lower face of said flange while still confining said material at the outer edge of the flange.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

JOHN MAURICE CROM. 

